Texas says chiropractors shouldn’t treat diabetes, other disorders

Texas is on its way to expressly banning chiropractors from treating conditions such as thyroid disorders and diabetes.

Calling chiropractors who solicit diabetics with “secret” treatments “hucksterism,” the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners has been working on new rules since 2010. The questionable ads run by Texas chiropractors were similar to ones currently appearing in Utah, said Yvette Yarbrough, the board’s executive director.

Texas’ new rules may allow chiropractors to co-manage such diseases through nutrition and exercise. But she anticipates that the new rule will ban “outright treatment” of diabetes, thyroid disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, asthma and other conditions.

The proposed rule is part of an ongoing battle between the Texas Medical Association and chiropractors. Medical doctors say chiropractors are illegally treading on their turf.

“Everybody wants to practice medicine but nobody wants to go to medical school,” said David Bragg, the medical association’s attorney. “Chiropractors are excellent marketers. … They believe chiropractic is the answer. Texas law doesn’t agree with that.”

Tyce Hergert, public relations chairman for the Texas Chiropractic Association, said chiropractors should be able to help patients through nutrition and exercise.

“As far as sitting down with a patient that has diabetes, going over their diet, [offering] lifestyle coaching,” he said, “we have plenty of training in that.”

This is really scary! I have treated diabetes and thyroid conditions for years. Case in point was a patient I saw who experienced headaches. She responded so well she asked if I could help her with her diabetes. I placed on a special diet and suggested specific nutrients. I followed up the next month and she stated she had not felt that good in years and was furious at her endocrinologist for not telling her about these things. I explained that her endocrinologist does not have training in nutrition or natural healing. Therein lies the problem. They do not want the competition and feel threaten by our profession!

We’re all with you on that topic. It’s amazing that MDs would panic at DCs providing that kind of educational recommendations…don’t these folks read? Most of the leading diseases that kill are solidly lifestyle-related.

This Texas posting should be spoon fed to every DC who dreams of becoming an extended practitioner. Medicine will never willingly hand over their prescription rights to chiropractors. WAKE UP!

Finally, the reality is that chiropractors do not TREAT disease. However, we do locate joint dysfunction that create the Subluxation Complex, and that constellation of symptoms CAN mimic visceral disease. This article is DEFINITELY worth your time reading!